More minorities choosing graduate schools

December 9, 2007|By Ed Moore

Minority students are increasingly choosing graduate school as the path to success in their chosen careers, a positive development that will help to fuel economic growth all over the country. The Council of Graduate Schools reported recently that minority enrollment in graduate schools increased by 2 percent last year. Minorities now make up 28 percent of total graduate school enrollment.

Florida is ahead of the curve when it comes to enrolling minority students in graduate schools. Our graduate schools have a history of reaching out to minority students.

As president of the Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida, I would like to focus on the institutions I know best, the 20 ICUF institutions that offer graduate degrees in a wide variety of subjects, many of critical importance to the state's well-being.

Forty seven percent of Florida residents enrolled as graduate students at ICUF institutions are minorities, predominantly African-Americans and Hispanics. This is a superb record in a state where African-Americans and Hispanics make up about 35 percent of the population. Minority students comprise a majority of students enrolled at five institutions: Barry University, Bethune-Cookman University, Florida Memorial University, Nova Southeastern University and St. Thomas University.

ICUF members enroll about 25 percent of the students attending four-year colleges and universities in Florida, but the number of graduate and professional students is disproportionately higher. Our members enroll about 40 percent of students seeking master's and doctoral degrees and 55 percent of the first professional degrees in areas as law, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry.

There are several reasons why minority students are choosing graduate schools at independent colleges and universities as the vehicle for advancing their careers. The schools are committed to serving the communities in which they are located and offer flexible scheduling that allows students to pick the option that works best for them. Grad students attending our institutions do not have to move from their homes and can continue to work.

College students can no longer assume that a bachelor's degree is all they need to make their dreams come true. An increasingly complex economy is generating a demand for specialization and advanced skills. The ICUF graduate schools offer unique opportunities for minorities who want to become leaders in their fields, notably in education and business, enrolling more than half the grad students studying those subjects in Florida. Several of our schools offer advanced degrees in technical areas such as engineering and aerospace.

Our members are serving Florida by responding to workforce needs. We applaud graduate schools all over the country for offering more opportunities to minorities and take considerable pride in our record of achievement. Students interested in pursuing graduate degrees can visit www.icuf.org for more information.

Ed H. Moore, PhD, is President of Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida.